OCTOBER 27, 2023 | VOLUME 26 | ISSUE 22
Farm Bureau Press A PEEK INSIDE
ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU ADDS TWO ON GOVERNMENT RELATIONS TEAM Jay Robbins has been hired as director of national affairs at Arkansas Farm Bureau. He will lobby the state’s Congressional delegation on behalf of ArFB members and assist in executing the political and legislative strategies for ArFB, the state’s largest agricultural advocacy organization.
ArFB SurPasses Membership Quota, Page 2
Robbins, a Hot Springs native, most recently served as director of government relations for the Arkansas Bar Association. His experience Continued on page 2
Jay Robbins
2023 Arkansas State Fair Sale of Champions, Page 3
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Southeastern Farmer of the Year | Steve Cobb of Craighead County was selected Oct. 17 as the 2023 Sunbelt Ag Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year in Moultrie, Ga. The Cobbs are the third Arkansas family to take home top honors since Arkansas joined the 10-state program. Present during the luncheon were (from left) Sunbelt Ag Expo Executive Director Chip Blalock, Terri and Steve Cobb, Georgia Ag Commissioner Tyler Harper and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp.
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A PUBLICATION OF THE ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU FEDERATION
BEARDEN COMPLETES AFBF COM ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU Rachel Bearden of Friendship, a member of the Arkansas Farm GOVERNMENT RELATIONS Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee, was among 15 Continued from page 1
also includes serving on staff for U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor and Congressman Mike Ross, as well as time at The National Agriculture Law Center in Fayetteville. A graduate of the University of Arkansas, Robbins is a member of the Arkansas Society Angela Griffin of Association Executives and the Arkansas Society of Professional Lobbyists. He also was a member of the Leadership Greater Little Rock Class XXX. The Public Affairs & Government Relations department also hired Angela Griffin as an administrative assistant. Griffin comes to the Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation after working 23 years for Arkansas Farm Bureau Insurance.
ArFB SURPASSES MEMBERSHIP QUOTA ArFB reached its 2023 membership quota. As of Oct. 26, county Farm Bureaus transmitted 189,058 members for the current year. This equals 101.20% of our goal, with over 172,500 renewal members. Additionally, 56 county Farm Bureaus had met their individual membership goals, with several more counties expected to meet their quota by the end of the membership year.
farm and ranch leaderships who recently graduated from the fall session of the Women’s Communications Boot Camp hosted by the American Farm Bureau. The agricultural leaders completed an intensive four-day course that featured hands-on sessions focused on public speaking, working with the media and messaging. Program graduates will use their training to strategically support Farm Bureau’s priority issues. This includes participating in local media opportunities, sharing information with elected officials and joining social media campaigns that spotlight modern agriculture. “Agriculture needs strong advocates who are willing to step up and share their stories on the local, state and national level,” said Isabella Chism, an Indiana row crop farmer and chair of the AFB Women’s Leadership Committee. “The Farm Bureau women leaders who have completed this training are poised to creatively use their skills in a broad range of settings.” In addational to Bearden, other Boot Camp graduates were Nicole Richardson Clements, Arizona; Nanette Auhll, Colorado; Julie Hardy, Georgia; Janis Highley, Indiana; Jennifer Newby, Kentucky; Courtney Gerace, Louisiana; Danielle Yerby, Louisiana; Meghan Gennings, Massachusetts; Carlina Harris, New Mexico; Julia Hardy, North Carolina; Margaret Harrison, South Carolina; Emilee Haubner, Texas; Megan Webb, West Virginia; and Diane Garcia, Utah. “Engaging with elected officials and consumers is an important element of agriculture advocacy work,” said AFBF President
ARKANSAS GROWN CONFERENCE SCHEDULED FOR JANUARY 2024 The Arkansas Department of Agriculture will partner with several Arkansas agricultural associations and organizations to host the second Arkansas Grown Conference and Expo Jan. 25-27, 2024, at the Hot Springs Convention Center. The Arkansas Grown Conference and Expo is open to all parties interested in the Arkansas agriculture industry and will focus on farmers and producers who produce for the local food system. In January 2023, the Department hosted the first Arkansas Grown Conference and Expo with over 450 attendees and 70 vendors. The three-day event will consist of workshops, speakers, off-site farm tours, networking opportunities, and a vendor trade show.
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A PUBLICATION OF THE ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU FEDERATION
MMUNICATION BOOT CAMP
2023 ARKANSAS STATE FAIR SALE OF CHAMPIONS Arkansas Farm Bureau again carried a strong presence at the State Fair Sale of Champions, a premium sale to benefit top youth exhibitors who show market animals at the fair. Farm Bureau partnered with several businesses from across the state to help support youth exhibitors and would like to say a special thank you to Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Simmons Bank, Publishing Concepts, Inc. and Jenkins Enterprises for their contributions to the sale.
Pictured during boot camp graduation are (from left) Isabella Chism AFBF Women’s Leadership Committee Chair, Rachel Bearden and Terri Moore, AFBF Vice President of Communications.
Zippy Duvall. “AFBF is proud to continue offering this training to women farmers and ranchers twice each year. I applaud our graduates and congratulate them for taking this next step in their leadership journey.” This is the 19th Boot Camp. The program has 284 graduates and is open to all women involved in Farm Bureau.
Additional contributors to the sale included the Arkansas Poultry Federation, the Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association, the Arkansas State Fair Board, the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas, Travis Justice, North American Midway Entertainment, Campbell Dodge, the Pulaski County Farm Bureau, the Arkansas State Fair Exhibitors Fund, the Mitchell family, the Farmington FFA Booster Club and H.J. Trailer Sales of Hot Springs. Photos from the event can be found online.
The American Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee, in partnership with AFBF staff, hosts and provides training for Women’s Communications Boot Camp biannually. Applications open in December for the next spring session of Boot Camp, slated for April 1-4, 2024.
E AND EXPO 4 Partner organizations include the Arkansas State Horticulture Society, Arkansas Farmers Market Association, Arkansas Blackberry Growers Association, Arkansas Agritourism Association, Arkansas Association of Grape Growers, Arkansas Pecan Growers Association, Mid America Strawberry Growers Association, and the Arkansas Association of Conservation Districts. Registration includes access to general sessions, workshops, and entrance to the expo. Opportunities for sponsorship and vendor booths are available. For more information, contact Beth Moore. Register and learn more about the Arkansas Grown Conference and Expo online. A PUBLICATION OF THE ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU FEDERATION
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MARKET NEWS as of October 25, 2023 Contact Brandy Carroll
brandy.carroll@arfb.com
Tyler Oxner
tyler.oxner@arfb.com
Cotton Cotton futures remain under pressure, with most-active December moving to new threemonth lows. The harvest is progressing on target with the 5-year average pace, with 41% of the crop harvested. Arkansas farmers are ahead of schedule, with 44% of the crop out, compared to a 5-year average of 30%. The west Texas harvest has been delayed by rainy weather this week. Those rains are needed in the long-term, but currently are hurting the quality of an already poor crop. Currently, 66% of the cotton there is rated poor to very poor. The size of the crop, however, has been built into prices for the past few months, and the market is more focused on the demand side of the equation. Export sales continue to be disappointing. China has been purchasing from Australia and Brazil as recent strength in the dollar makes U.S. cotton less competitive. December is building support around 82¢ currently, and resistance at the September high of 89.89¢ looks like the top for now. Rice The rice harvest is virtually complete everywhere but California. Yield reports in Arkansas are impressive but milling yield reports have been disappointing. Trading volume has been elevated as traders roll out of November and into the January contract, which is now the 4
most active contract. November is bumping against resistance at $16.20, while January has resistance at $16.60. Support begins at $15.60 for November and $16 for January. Soybeans In the Crop Progress report released on Monday, soybean harvest rates fell slightly short of market expectations, giving a boost to soybean prices earlier this week. Across the Heartland, widespread rain showers are anticipated until the week’s end, potentially slowing down the harvesting process for the remaining 24% of soybeans in the fields. Favorable rain forecasts in Brazil have kept grain prices in check this week, with Brazilian planting progress in line with the 5-year average, although it lags behind the past two years due to dry conditions in key areas of the country. Corn Steady progress in corn harvest initially pushed down corn futures earlier in the week. However, harvest activities in the Midwest decelerated due to rain and the season’s first significant snowfall. Rains expected in Brazil later this week and recent precipitation in Argentina have also had a dampening effect on global corn prices, as the improved growing conditions raise production expectations for both South American nations. The USDA’s Crop Progress report indicated that more than half of the projected U.S. corn acres have already been harvested. Wheat A stronger U.S. dollar and substantial rainfall in Argentina over the weekend have alleviated concerns about global wheat supplies, resulting in price declines. Ukraine’s humanitarian corridor in the Black Sea region has successfully shipped around 700,000 metric tonnes of grain, equivalent to roughly 22
A PUBLICATION OF THE ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU FEDERATION
million bushels of wheat, in the past few months. The news of sustained Ukrainian grain shipments, coupled with robust Russian wheat exports, has further fueled bearish sentiment in the global wheat markets earlier this week. Meanwhile, winter wheat planting continues across the United States, with 77% of the expected 2024 winter wheat crops already in the ground as of the week ending Oct. 22. However, Arkansas is trailing behind, having planted only 37% of its projected crop, which is 5% below its 5-year average. Cattle Live cattle futures have plummeted lower this week. Friday’s Cattle on Feed report showed 11.6 million head on feed, the second-highest Oct. 1 total since 1996. Placements during September totaled 2.21 million head, up 6% from 2022. December futures gapped lower on Monday and could retest support at $175.85. February is trading at 4-month lows and testing support at $180. Feeder cattle followed lower, with January moving to 4-month lows and testing support at $237. Hogs Live hog futures remain in a sharply down trend. December futures fell through previous support last week and to new 12-month lows. There is little chart support in sight, beyond the lows set last week, which is $65.40 for December. Seasonal increases in supplies are impacting the market, and demand has also been disappointing. This week’s cold storage report, released on Wednesday, will give the market an indication of how pork is moving through marketing channels.
EDITOR Ashley Wallace ashley.wallace@arfb.com